{"id":21947,"date":"2020-12-18T09:18:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T13:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=21947"},"modified":"2020-12-27T18:37:18","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T22:37:18","slug":"first-things-first-quotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/first-things-first-quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"First Things First Quotes by Stephen Covey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the best First Things First <\/em>quotes by Stephen Covey? What can these quotes teach you about time management?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These First Things First<\/em> quotes by Stephen Covey highlight his key ideas about time management. They talk about how to manage your time<\/a> not just efficiently, but also effectively and meaningfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for three First Things First <\/em>quotes about time management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

First Things First <\/em>Quotes by Stephen Covey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time<\/a> on what is important.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The urgent vs important dichotomy is central to Stephen Covey’s approach to time management. He believes that the main reason we don’t have time for things that are important and meaningful is because we are too distracted by urgent tasks — things as trivial as a ringing phone or as critical as a health emergency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUrgency addiction is a self-destructive behavior that temporarily fills the void created by unmet needs. And instead of meeting these needs, the tools and approaches of time management often feed the addiction. They keep us focused on daily prioritization of the urgent.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Further, he says that responding to urgency can become an addiction to some people because it brings a sense of immediate accomplishment and an adrenaline rush. Have you ever been faced with a crisis, come up with a solution, and felt that incredible sense of success and relief? Although urgent situations are stressful, resolving them creates a high that you can become addicted to; however, this is a self-destructive habit that only temporarily fills a void, whether it be the lack of a larger purpose or a desire for a sense of achievement.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional time management approaches, including to-do lists and daily planning<\/a>, largely feed into this addiction by emphasizing efficiency and failing to allocate time for important tasks that aren\u2019t urgent. Making matters worse, our society tends to value busyness as an indicator of productivity. How often have you heard friends or coworkers talk about how busy they are with urgent tasks? Sometimes it seems to be used as a status symbol and fosters competition: If I\u2019m busier than you, I must be achieving more and doing more important things. But chronic busyness prevents us from recognizing and addressing the important \u201cfirst things,\u201d priorities, in our lives.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He believes that the key to a fulfilling life<\/a> is organizing your time based on priorities, that is, things that are important and that move you close to your goals. His \u201cfirst things\u201d method of time management emphasizes important tasks, rather than those that are merely urgent. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are the best First Things First quotes by Stephen Covey? What can these quotes teach you about time management? These First Things First quotes by Stephen Covey highlight his key ideas about time management. They talk about how to manage your time not just efficiently, but also effectively and meaningfully. Keep reading for three First Things First quotes about time management.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":21951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,43],"tags":[176],"class_list":["post-21947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-self-improvement","tag-first-things-first","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nFirst Things First Quotes by Stephen Covey - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for First Things First quotes by Stephen Covey? 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